Fresh figs and pomegranates will soon become the latest Peruvian fruits to gain access to the US according to national plant health service Senasa.

Director Jorge Barrenechea said he hoped both products could receive the green ligh by April, with other products including custard apples, tomatoes and physalis following soon after.

“We want to finalise negotiations for figs and pomegranates within the next six months, but hopefully by April,” he told Agencia Andina.

Barrenechea added that negotiations were also underway to improve market access for fresh asparagus and blueberries.

He said Senasa is working full time to expand Peru’s export markets. In 2015, 21 agricultural and fishing products gained access to new markets, including Hass avocados to China and Japan and mangoes to South Korea. The US gave the green light for imports of fresh peppers, papayas and mangoes and lifted restrictions on citrus imports from certain parts of Peru.

The Peruvian government is also in negotiations to gain access to the Japanese market for citrus and table grapes, while in China the priority is to agree a protocol for blueberry exports.

“We are not just focusing on these big economies, however, but also have pending access agreements with Chile, Colombia, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador and some Central American countries,” Barrenechea said. “In total there are around 200 pending cases for agricultural and fisheries products.”

Peru expects to export US$2.1bn of fruits and vegetables in 2015 according to producer group AGAP. Executive director Ana María Deustua said the record figure had been achieved in spite of the challenging global economic environment and issues relating to El Niño.

“The country has developed a modern agricultural base, especially in Ica La Libertad and Piura, while production is also expanding in Chiclayo, Arequipa and other regions,” Deustua said.

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